Slaughtering in slaughterhouses - monthly data
methods, notes and classification
DATA_DESCR Meat results cover the number and carcass weight of bovine animals, pigs, sheep, goats and poultry. The data refer not only to animals slaughtered in approved slaughterhouses but also estimates, of the extent of domestic slaughterings. Production forecasts are expressed as the gross indigenous production (GIP), which corresponds to the number of bovine animals, pigs, sheep and goats slaughtered plus the balance of trade in these animals.
CLASS_SYSTEM Basic indicators on slaughterings are compiled for: Bovine animals Calves Young cattle Heifers Cows Bulls Bullocks Pigs (No breakdown) Sheep Lambs Others Goats (No breakdown) Poultry Chickens Turkeys Ducks Others Basic indicators on meat production forecasts are compiled for: Bovine animals Calves and young cattle Heifers Cows Bulls and bullocks Pigs (No breakdown) Sheep (No breakdown) Goats (No breakdown) Data on external trade are established for live animals according to the codification of the Combined Nomenclature. The different headings of the Combined Nomenclature are aggregated to produce the aggregates listed above.
STAT_CONC_DEF Monthly meat statistics are compiled not only for bovine animals, pigs, sheep, goats and poultry slaughtered in slaughterhouses, of which meat is deemed fit for human consumption, but also covers estimates of domestic slaughter. All losses of animals before slaughter and all production not certified for human consumption are excluded. Gross indigenous production forecasts include the total number of animals slaughtered for the given species, plus the balance of intra-Community trade (and the balance of external trade) in live animals. Values are expressed in numbers of heads and carcass weight. "Bovine animals" means domestic animals of the species Bos taurus and Bubalus bubalis, including hybrids like Beefalo. "Claves" means bovines animals aged 8 months or under. "Young cattle" means bovine animals aged over 8 but not over 12 months. "Bulls" means non-castrated male bovine animals not included under calves and young cattle. "Bullocks" means castrated male bovine animals not included under calves and young cattle. "Heifers" means female bovine animals that have not yet calved and which are not included under calves and young cattle. "Cows" means female bovine animals that have calved. "Pigs" means domestic animals of the species Sus scrofa domestica. "Sheep" means domestic animals of the species Ovis Aries. "Lambs" means male or female sheep under 12 months old. "Goats" means domestic animals of the subspecies Capra agagrus hircus. "Poultry' means domestic birds of the species Gallus gallus (chickens), Meleagris spp. (turkeys), Anas spp. and Cairina moschata (ducks) and Anser anser dom. (geese). Domestic birds of the species Coturnix spp. (quails), Phasianus spp. (pheasants), Numida meleagris dom. (guineafowl), Columbinae spp. (pigeons), and Struthio camelus (ostriches) are included. It excludes, however, birds raised in confinement for hunting purposes and not for meat production. The term "carcass" means: (a) for bovine animals, the whole body of a slaughtered animal as presented after bleeding, evisceration and skinning, presented without the head (separated from the carcass at the atloido-occipital joint); without the feet (severed at the carpametacarpal or tarsometatarsal joints); without the organs contained in the thoracic and abdominal cavities with or without the kidneys, the kidney fat and the pelvic fat; and without the sexual organs and the attached muscles and without the udder or the mammary fat; (b) for pigs, the body of a slaughtered pig, bled and eviscerated, whole or divided down the mid-line, without tongue, bristles, hooves, sexual organs, flare fat, kidneys and diaphragm; (c) for sheep and goats, the whole body of a slaughtered animal as presented after bleeding, evisceration and skinning, presented without the head (separated at the atloido-occipital joint); without the feet (severed at the carpametacarpal or tarsometatarsal joints); without the tail (severed between the sixth and seventh caudal vertebrae); without the organs contained in the thoracic and abdominal cavities (except the kidneys and kidney fat); and without the udder and sexual organs; the kidneys and kidney fat are part of the carcass; (d) for poultry, the animal plucked and drawn, without head and feet and without neck, heart, liver and gizzard, known as '65 % chicken', or otherwise presented. The term 'carcass weight' means the weight of the cold carcass which, for pigs, notably, is obtained by subtracting 2 % from the weight recorded warm 45 minutes, at the latest, after the pig is bled, and which for cattle is obtained by subtracting 2 % from the weight recorded warm 60 minutes, at the latest, after the animal is bled. "Slaughterhouse" means an officially registered and approved establishment used for slaughtering and dressing animals whose meat is intended for human consumption. Definition of gross indigenous production (GIP): Gross indigenous production includes the totality of the animals slaughtered for the given species, plus the balance of intra- and extra-Community and external trade in live animals.
STAT_UNIT Results are aggregated at national level after the data have been collected from slaughterhouses either exhaustively or through surveys. These results are presented in tonnes and heads.
STAT_POP All animals slaughtered in slaughterhouses are included. An estimate to cover domestic slaughtering is calculated once a year.
REF_AREA European Union, Member States The results are established at national level for each Member State.
BASE_PER The annual production period refers to the calendar year from 1 January to 31 December. Data are available since January 1964.
UNIT_MEASURE The units of measure are 1000 tonnes and 1000 heads.
Methods 
Explanatory Notes 
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